School board member absent since March 15

Spivey splitting time between South Bend, two other cities.

SOUTH BEND -- South Bend school board member Stephanie Spivey has not attended a school board meeting in person in more than two months as she splits time between South Bend, North Carolina, and Louisiana, The Tribune has learned.

According to meeting minutes posted on the school corporation's website, Spivey missed the March 19, April 11 and May 21 school board meetings and participated by phone in the April 25 and May 7 meetings.

The at-large board member last attended a meeting in person on March 15.

School board members must be present at meetings to vote on items on the agenda, meaning Spivey has not been in a position to cast a vote as a member of the board in more than two months.

The school board meets regularly on the first and third Monday of every month.

Spivey said Wednesday that her poor attendance record of late has to do with the fact that she and her family are in the process of moving to Charlotte, N.C., where she has been house hunting.

In addition, she said, she has been taking care of her sick mother in New Orleans.

Spivey said she intends to resign her position on the board at the end of the school year, but in the meantime, "according to the residency requirements and what's legal, I'm well within compliance" to serve on the board.

"We have our home in South Bend," Spivey said by phone Wednesday from Charlotte, "and I am between Charlotte and New Orleans, attempting to take care of my mother, who is ill, and scouting (homes) here."

Spivey noted that she is qualified to vote within the geographic boundaries of the corporation, as required under the school board's bylaws. In addition, she said, her vehicles are registered in the county.

According to voter registration records, Spivey is registered to vote at an address on Dutch Court, near Hamilton Primary Center, in South Bend. It is unknown if she voted in the recent primary election.

No one answered the door Wednesday morning at Spivey's home. The blinds and curtains were drawn on all of the windows and doors, and it appeared to be unoccupied.

In Spivey's absence, the school board has consisted of just six members, making it difficult to conduct business at times.

"This board is very likely to be a 3-3 tie," board Vice President Bill Sniadecki said Wednesday. "That's why we have seven board members."

Sniadecki noted that a number of important votes are upcoming regarding school closings and other budget matters.

School board President Roger Parent is out of the country and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

School board members receive $2,000 each year in compensation, according to corporation spokeswoman Sue Coney, plus an additional $112 per regular or special meeting and $62 per committee meeting or executive session.

A school board member would not be paid for participating in a meeting or session by phone, Coney said.

Should Spivey indeed resign, it would be up to the remaining members of the school board to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of her term, which ends Dec. 31.

"I'm just hoping to get someone - if ( Spivey) does resign and we move on - that doesn't have a personal agenda and is dedicated to the education of our kids," Sniadecki said.

Someone, he said, like Spivey.

"I've always known her to be very dedicated and to base her decisions on the kids," Sniadecki said of Spivey, adding, "I think she did an excellent job on the board when she was there."